On a sunny Monday evening in August, I was standing in a large conference room at Central Lutheran Church. Volunteers were busily painting, hammering and assembling signs for the September 8th Rise for Climate, Jobs and Justice Rally. I was speaking with a founding member of 350PDX’s Arts and Events Team, Barbara Ford. She said, “We can’t have a monoculture of activism,” explaining that people bring different gifts in the creation of a robust activist community.

It was a perfect quote to start to my research for this blog post. I would spend the next few days participating in different events from 350PDX’s calendar. Over the course of my experience, I realized that there are definitely a wide variety of ways to participate and talents to utilize in the growing climate movement.

http://350pdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/350PDX-head-logo-bcm-wide-300x68.png00Chris Palmerhttp://350pdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/350PDX-head-logo-bcm-wide-300x68.pngChris Palmer2018-09-06 11:08:132018-09-06 11:25:39Week in the Life of 350PDX

More and more, people are looking for concrete action on climate change. I was recently reminded of this on a trip to the Oregon Country Fair, with a variety of eco-friendly practices and activities.

I connected with volunteers from 350.org’s Corvallis chapter at a booth dedicated to environmental action. We discussed some of the campaigns for a stable climate happening right now in Oregon, such as opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG terminal and pipeline. We also talked about the September 8 Climate Day of Action, so mark your calendars! There is a lot of excitement about this nationwide event.Read more

Can you imagine a world where we get around in self-driving electric vehicles, hailed from rideshare services like Uber and powered by solar? What if these breakthroughs were coming, not in 50 years, but in the next decade? That was the gist of a recent video I watched at a 350PDX NE Neighborhood meeting, based on the work of Stanford University futurist Tony Seba.Read more

Last November, twenty arts leaders from climate organizations across Oregon and Washington met for a two-day workshop presented by David Solnit, the lead arts organizer for 350.org, at the Center of Equity and Inclusion in Portland. At the workshop, 350PDX members practiced making flags and banners, large and small, via silk screen and hand painting. Mary Rose introduced the art and science of making a flash mob, and Barbara Ford shared expertise and led a discussion about how to use songs and chants specifically designed for parades and actions. Read more

When reading climate change articles, I have often felt frustrated with how vague their statements have been, or with the narrowness of their focus. Joe Romm, the author who has written the majority of the articles I’ve read, seems to share this feeling. He wrote, “One of the greatest failings of the climate science community (and the media) is not spelling out as clearly as possible the risks we face on our current emissions path, as well as the plausible worst-case scenario, which includes massive ecosystem collapse.”

I thought others may not have read this kind of information either, so I have put together the key bits and pieces from the articles (to which I’ve provided links below) to share with you. Most of what is written below is copied from these articles. I hope you will find this informative and interesting.

Path of places in Oregon the total eclipse will be visible August 21, 2017

Solar irradiance on land is about 1000 watts per square meter at sea level on a clear day, like when the moon is not in the way. On the 21st of this month here in Oregon, solar irradiance is going to suddenly drop to about 1 watt per square meter in places like Salem, Warm Springs (momentarily not so warm), and Prineville. Weather will change for a bit, but climate will not. The solar eclipse will help some politicians escape the confusion between the two. Some will be left behind. Read more

January 21, 2017, the day after Inauguration Day, we marched. Women in Washington DC, women in Portland, women in cities all around the nation, the world. And men too. Men who stand in solidarity and support equal rights for all. We came together in the rain, in the cold. We came together in the sun and the heat. We came with our signs and our pussyhats, our fists raised and our voices uplifted. We came with our rage, our nasty, our love, our hope. We came to march. We came to unify. We came to be heard.

Crowd estimates for the Portland march alone range from 70,000-100,000. I was one of those thousands. My husband marched beside me. A handful of dear friends, too. And others, faces I didn’t know, but recognized as sisters and brothers who want to move forward, not back, sisters and brothers wanting a kinder and more just America, a future different than what our new President is offering.

But Saturday was only the start. Day one. And the road will most certainly be long and windy and most likely uphill. So it is not enough to simply march. We will need to do more. But what? I have five suggestions for you. Read more

http://350pdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/350PDX-head-logo-bcm-wide-300x68.png00Guest Authorhttp://350pdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/350PDX-head-logo-bcm-wide-300x68.pngGuest Author2017-01-27 21:12:062017-01-27 21:15:325 Actions To Take After the Portland Women's March

I didn’t watch or listen to any of the inauguration. What I did instead, in response to the disturbing transition in our government, was get out and participate in a few of the many activities that happened around Portland this weekend. There were many events I missed, but I managed to take part in several that, with their different formats and focal points, gave me ideas for how to engage in the struggle for our climate and our civil liberties. Here are four options, from four different stimulating and encouraging events: Read more

Students across Oregon are now back in school. Due to a warming climate, for many agricultural families, the growing seasons no longer coincide with the school year. Families have to pull their children out of school earlier, and some students are falling behind.

Neighborhood-based teams make attending meetings easier and allow us to better develop strong community… in our local quadrant! We’re excited to be able to work closely with neighbors towards a fossil fuel-free future, and we[...]

Socializing at 9:30 a.m. Coffee, snacks and a way to get involved in climate action on a local scale! Meet and collaborate with other people who want to prioritize our climate and the future of our planet![...]

Please join us at 6:30 for a sociable, scrumptious dinner potluck – an item to share is welcome but NOT required. Meeting starts at 7:00. Both are in the Cascadia Co-housing dining room, 4377 SW 94th Ave, Portland, OR 97225. Childcare[...]

Do you live in Washington County and want to get involved with climate justice actions near you? Come to the next meeting of 350 Washington County, a local chapter of 350.org, an international organization dedicated[...]

We’re ramping up for Fall – come see how you can be a part of this awesome movement! Email Sandy@350pdx.org or Taryn@350pdx.org for more info or if you would like to talk or meet with us before you come[...]

Neighborhood-based teams make attending meetings easier and allow us to better develop strong community… in our local quadrant! We’re excited to be able to work closely with neighbors towards a fossil fuel-free future, and we[...]

Socializing at 9:30 a.m. Coffee, snacks and a way to get involved in climate action on a local scale! Meet and collaborate with other people who want to prioritize our climate and the future of our planet![...]

Do you live in Washington County and want to get involved with climate justice actions near you? Come to the next meeting of 350 Washington County, a local chapter of 350.org, an international organization dedicated[...]

We’re ramping up for Fall – come see how you can be a part of this awesome movement! Email Sandy@350pdx.org or Taryn@350pdx.org for more info or if you would like to talk or meet with us before you come[...]